2014 Chiefs Schedule Highlights

Spotlighting the team's four nationally-televised contests in 2014

The 2014 NFL regular season schedule is out and like always, there are games that immediately jump off the page. You know, the kind of games that have you marking your calendars for the must-see matchups, especially those that are nationally televised, like the four Chiefs games listed below.

Preseason Game 2 - Sunday, Aug. 17 at 7:00 PM CT - FOX

Carolina Panthers

The Kansas City Chiefs travel to Carolina for a nationally-televised preseason matchup against QB Cam Newton and the Panthers on Sunday, August 17 at 7:00 PM CT on FOX. It's the first meeting between the teams since the Chiefs topped the Panthers, 27-21, at Arrowhead Stadium in 2012. The Panthers are 1-1 against the Chiefs at Bank of America Stadium.

The Week 4 contest against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead is not only a matchup headlined by great QBs, Tom Brady and Alex Smith, but also future Hall of Fame head coaches, Bill Belichick and Andy Reid. They are the only two current NFL coaches who have defeated every other team in the league, during their head-coaching careers. When their players take the field, Alex Smith will be facing the Patriots for the first time in his eight-year career. New England is 4-1 against the Chiefs, when led by QB Tom Brady, and 1-1 at Arrowhead.

The Chiefs return to the "Black Hole" in Oakland for a Thursday-night matchup with the Raiders on NFL Network. Much has changed for the Raiders, since the Chiefs were led by Jamaal Charles' five-TD performance last season. The Raiders have several new faces in their lineup, highlighted by the trade for former Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub, as well as the free-agent additions like RB Maurice Jones-Drew, WR James Jones, DE Justin Tuck and LB LaMarr Woodley, among others. The Raiders also re-signed CB Charles Woodson and RB Darren McFadden, making for strong additions on both sides of the ball.

Any time you're scheduled to play a divisional opponent, it's always a highlight, but when that opponent is also the defending AFC Champion, who you're playing in primetime on your own home turf, you have a must-see matchup. When the Denver Broncos come to town in Week 13, they'll again be led by future Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning, as well as some newly-signed teammates, WR Emmanuel Sanders, DE DeMarcus Ware, CB Aqib Talib and SS T.J. Ward, among others. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has always embraced the opportunity to play the best and Denver certainly applies. The Chiefs hold a 24-17 record against the Broncos at Arrowhead.